Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Fight against human trafficking continues in Louisiana

The fight against human trafficking is front and center in Louisiana and on Capitol Hill, and now there is a movement that aims to protect victims.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 6:41 PM CDT May 13, 2015

Fight against human trafficking continues in Louisiana

The fight against human trafficking is front and center in Louisiana and on Capitol Hill, and now there is a movement that aims to protect victims.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 6:41 PM CDT May 13, 2015

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT WITH SCOTT WALKER, AG ON, ANDMARGARET ORR.SCOTT:THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMANTRAFFICKING IS FRONT AND CENTER.RECENTLY LAWMAKERS PASSEDLEGISLATION THAT WILL PROTECTVICTIMS.ADRIANNA: THIS IS A CRIME THATTRAPS PEOPLE AND MANY AREFIGHTING TO GET A VOICE TO THESEVICTIMS.THIS IS MODERN-DAY SLAVERY.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FORCEDSEX, VIOLENCE AND BRUTAL ABUSE,IT'S HAPPENING MORE THAN YOUTHINK RIGHT HERE IN OURCOMMUNITY.SUPPORTERS SAY LAWMAKERSRECENTLY MADE A GOOD FIRST STEPAND ADD IT'S A LONG TIME COMING.I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO RUNAWAY FROM MY PROBLEMS AND ISTARTED TO WANT TO GET MONEY, LIKE I REALLY FELT LIKE IWASN'T WORTHY.THE 22-YEAR-OLD WHO DOESN'TWANT TO BE IDENTIFIED GOT IN THELIFE AS A YOUNG GIRL.SHE DESCRIBES A HORRIFIC LIFE OFRAPE, DRUGS, VIOLENCE, PIMPS ANDSOMETIMES BEING HELD AGAINST HERWILL, WITH LITTLE TO NO PAY.THAT FAST LIFE.I DIDN'T WANT TO, IT WAS A MUSTTO SURVIVE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVENOBODY OR HOPE.COULDN'T PICK UP PHONE AND SAY INEED YOU.THERE IS PAIN, HUMILIATION,BUT LIVING THE LIFE BECAUSE IT'STHE ONLY LIFE SHE KNEW.AND SHE IS NOT ALONE.LOUISIANA STATE POLICE REPORTGROWING NUMBERS OF HUMANTRAFFICKING.IN 2014 TROOPERS INVESTIGATED 9CASES ALL YEAR.ALREADY THIS YEAR, TROOPERSOPENED 10 CASES.THE HIGH NUMBERS ARE THE REASONTHE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT WASCREATED A YEAR AND A HALF AGOAND WHY THE PUSH FOR STRONGERLAWS STARTED.WE CANNOT LET THEM BEEXPLOITED, WE CANNOT LET THEM BERAPED, BEATEN AND TORTURED ANDHELD AGAINST THEIR WILL.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MODERN DAYSLAVERY.LOCALLY, THE COVENANT HOUSEHELPS VICTIMS IN CRISIS.A RECENT STUDY, FROM LOYOLAUNIVERSITY CALLED THE MODERNSLAVERY RESEARCH PROJECT LOOKEDAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT THECOVENANT HOUSE AND THE NUMBERSWILL SURPRISE YOU.14% ARE VICTIMS OF HUMANTRAFFICKING.11% HAD BEEN TRAFFICKED FOR SEX.5% FOR OTHER FORCED LABOR.YOU CANSEE FROM THOSE FIGURES,SOME RESIDENTS HAVE BEENVICTIMIZED IN MORE WAYS THANONE.IT BREAKS DOWN TO NEARLY 100PEOPLE A YEAR WHO ARE LIKELY TOBE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.KEEP IN MIND THIS IS JUST ONECRISIS CENTER, FROM VICTIMS WHOACTUALLY REPORTED IT.THERE'S NO CONCERN THAT THELAST DETAILS AND PRESIDENTSIGNING WONT HAPPEN.NOW WE CAN FOCUS ON WHAT THEBILL IS GOING TO DO.WHICH IS ADD ADDITIONALFUNDING FOR MORE SERVICES.THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM FINESBY PEOPLE CONVICTED OF THESECRIMES.THE JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OFTRAFFICKING ACT OF 2015, WITH APUSH FROM FRESHMAN SENATOR BILLCASSIDY, WILL TRAINPROFESSIONALS, LIKE DOCTORS TOIDENTIFY VICTIMS AND GET THEMHELP.THERE WILL BE MONEY FOR MORERESOURCES, STRICTER PUNISHMENTFOR TRAFFICKERS AND HELP FORGROUPS, LIKE THE COVENANT HOUSE.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 85-100EVERY YEAR HAVE BEEN HUMANLYTRAFFICKED, IF THAT DOESN'T WAKEYOU UP, WHAT WILL.LEADERS SAY IT'S HAPPENINGFAR TOO MUCH AND THE TOPIC NEEDSATTENTION.YOUNG VICTIMS ARE ALL AROUND US.MANY OF THEM NEED HELP TO GETOUT OF THE LIFE.OUR VICTIM, IS STILL WORKING TOGET OUT AND WANTS THE SAME FORPEOPLE WHO FEEL TRAPPED ANDDON'T HAVE A VOICE.EVERY DAY I WAKE UPAND LOOKIN THE MIRROR AND SAY YOU'REBEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE SOMEBODYSPECIAL AND YOU CAN MAKE ITTHROUGH IF YOU BELIEVE INYOURSELF.ADRIANNA:SENATOR BILL CASSIDYSENT US A STATEMENT THAT SAYS INPART, "IF OUR NURSES AND DOCTORSCAN BETTER IDENTIFY VICTIMS OFHUMAN TRAFFICKING, THEY CAN HELPBRING RELIEF TO THOSE SUFFERINGIN WAYS THAT THOSE OF US WHOHAVE NEVER BEEN THERE CANNOTIMAGINE.THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONETO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUTTHIS WILL HELP."ADRIANNA: CAMILLE, WHEN WILL OURAREA SEE MONEY?CAMILLE: THE IDEA IS THIS, THEMONEY WILL COME FROM FINES BYPEOPLE CONVICTED OF THESECRIMES.SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS SO THEAMOUNT OF MONEY HINGES ON THAT,AS FOR WHEN DEPENDS ON WHENTHOSE CRACKDOWNS HAPPEN.

Advertisement

Fight against human trafficking continues in Louisiana

The fight against human trafficking is front and center in Louisiana and on Capitol Hill, and now there is a movement that aims to protect victims.